Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders Descend Into Chaos

As I start writing this, it's 11:30 PM Central Time, well past my usual bedtime on a weekday. I find myself, along with what seems like the entire global population and possibly extraterrestrial beings, attempting to pre-order the new Nintendo Switch 2.

Pre-orders were scheduled to go live at 9 PM Pacific Time (12 AM Eastern Time) across three major retailers: Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. The rollout, however, has been a chaotic experience so far. Many at IGN and countless others online have been trying to secure a console, encountering a wild spectrum of outcomes—from complete failure to rare success, leading to widespread frustration and occasional celebration.

At Walmart, prospective buyers were immediately placed in a digital queue. While this process led some to successfully add a Switch 2 to their cart, others remain stuck on a "stay in line" screen with no estimate of wait time or likelihood of success. For those who finally reach the checkout, confusing error messages have been a common roadblock.

Target initially seemed more promising as it lacked a queue system, allowing some fans to proceed quickly. However, numerous reports soon surfaced of error screens during the purchase process. Some buyers even received order confirmation emails, only to have them canceled minutes later, forcing a restart. Others found the console mysteriously removed from their shopping cart before completing the transaction.

The Nintendo Switch 2 sold out instantly at Target. This is unreal bro. I refreshed on the second it turned 12 am. Actually unreal pic.twitter.com/LAQ4lC03qw

— Kenj (@Kenjdx) April 24, 2025

Best Buy's pre-orders did not start on time. The product page displayed "Coming Soon" for about thirty minutes before slowly funneling customers into a digital queue. Confirmations are now trickling in for a lucky few, while many face the same errors and restarts seen elsewhere. Across all three retailers, some customers have encountered fraud alerts from their banks or other payment issues, ultimately costing them their chance to purchase.

2 minutes....
byu/trashpandacoot1 inSwitch

While writing this article, Target and Walmart have reportedly sold out. Although more people are slowly getting through on Best Buy, others, including myself, have been stuck in an endless queue for over an hour. There are also reports of purchase confirmation emails being followed by cancellations or indefinite delays with no option to reorder.

Target cancelled my order 10 minutes after placing
byu/syde1020 inSwitch

More successful orders may come through in the next few hours. Another opportunity arrives today at 11:00 AM Eastern Time when GameStop opens pre-orders both online and in-store. Furthermore, select individuals with Nintendo accounts may receive a direct invitation to pre-order from Nintendo in May, though this is not guaranteed. Nintendo has indicated that demand, at least in Japan, far exceeds the initial projected supply.

Bots are the worst
byu/CANfilms inSwitch

To those less invested, this chaos might seem trivial. For dedicated Nintendo fans, however, it is the latest frustrating chapter in a confusing and often exasperating rollout. The initial excitement for the Switch 2 was tempered by the high price of the console, accessories, and games. This was followed by a pre-order pause due to U.S. tariff changes, only for orders to resume with the console price unchanged. Confusion also surrounds Nintendo's pricing and format plans for both physical and digital software, with the company offering little clarity on final costs or what exactly consumers are buying. It's understandable that many are upset about the uncertainty of securing a console near launch, especially with potential future price increases and supply constraints.

But for those determined to play Mario Kart World on release day, this is the current reality. Here’s a guide for anyone still trying to secure a pre-order.